2008 Woodie Awards
SMC Republicans hang banners to commemorate 9/11 today
Darwyyn Deyo
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Every year since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, clubs on campus have organized events to commemorate the tragedy; this year the SMC Republicans have hung banners to draw attention to the individual victims.
Last year, the SMC Democrats and Progressives, in collaboration with members of other clubs, painted the SMC letters black while the SMC Republicans decorated the front lawn with hundreds of national flags. The fact that the clubs were not unified raised concerns about politics taking precedence over the memorial, though most club members who were interviewed claimed their first concern was commemorating the victims. This year, the controversy will likely stem from the fact that the SMC Republicans is the only club officially organizing anything for the sixth anniversary of the attacks.
For this year's memorial, the Republicans have hung red, white, and blue banners on the columns and breezeways on campus. The banners list names of the victims of September 11 and are held up with rope, so as not to violate the new rules about flyer postings. However, the club also received special permission for the banners two weeks in advance because it has been planned since last year. There will be no flags planted in Chapel Lawn and there will be no speaker, said Republicans President Laura Gibble '10. "Flags are difficult to put in, they're expensive, and maintenance didn't approve… [so] we're putting up banners to make it so people know what's going on."
On the other hand, the SMC Democrats have nothing planned this year. They will not be painting the SMC black, they will not be hosting a speaker, and they are not involved with the SMC Republicans on the banners, though Gibble said that the club was open to volunteers.
Skylar Covich '09, president of the SMC Democrats, said his club decided not to do a memorial this year. "The Republican club is in charge of the work putting up some banners…there were some logistical problems getting all the plans made, but we definitely support the Republican efforts in commemorating the events." Instead, the SMC Democrats are going to use their resources to focus on the future. Covich said, "We're planning on using more of our resources to do some events that [deal] with what's happened since 9/11, with all of the wars that have been caused by the aftermath of 9/11. We're planning on having some debates and forums [but] we don't have specific topics or dates."
Some students are upset that the Republicans are the only club putting a memorial together. Mimi Villalpando '10 said, "I didn't know that the Republicans were more publicly active on campus and I wish that wasn't true. If [the Democrats] had some idea of what they were saving for…it doesn't seem like they're on top of things." Regardless of the criticisms, there will be a visual reminder of the attacks.
Last year, the SMC Democrats and Progressives, in collaboration with members of other clubs, painted the SMC letters black while the SMC Republicans decorated the front lawn with hundreds of national flags. The fact that the clubs were not unified raised concerns about politics taking precedence over the memorial, though most club members who were interviewed claimed their first concern was commemorating the victims. This year, the controversy will likely stem from the fact that the SMC Republicans is the only club officially organizing anything for the sixth anniversary of the attacks.
For this year's memorial, the Republicans have hung red, white, and blue banners on the columns and breezeways on campus. The banners list names of the victims of September 11 and are held up with rope, so as not to violate the new rules about flyer postings. However, the club also received special permission for the banners two weeks in advance because it has been planned since last year. There will be no flags planted in Chapel Lawn and there will be no speaker, said Republicans President Laura Gibble '10. "Flags are difficult to put in, they're expensive, and maintenance didn't approve… [so] we're putting up banners to make it so people know what's going on."
On the other hand, the SMC Democrats have nothing planned this year. They will not be painting the SMC black, they will not be hosting a speaker, and they are not involved with the SMC Republicans on the banners, though Gibble said that the club was open to volunteers.
Skylar Covich '09, president of the SMC Democrats, said his club decided not to do a memorial this year. "The Republican club is in charge of the work putting up some banners…there were some logistical problems getting all the plans made, but we definitely support the Republican efforts in commemorating the events." Instead, the SMC Democrats are going to use their resources to focus on the future. Covich said, "We're planning on using more of our resources to do some events that [deal] with what's happened since 9/11, with all of the wars that have been caused by the aftermath of 9/11. We're planning on having some debates and forums [but] we don't have specific topics or dates."
Some students are upset that the Republicans are the only club putting a memorial together. Mimi Villalpando '10 said, "I didn't know that the Republicans were more publicly active on campus and I wish that wasn't true. If [the Democrats] had some idea of what they were saving for…it doesn't seem like they're on top of things." Regardless of the criticisms, there will be a visual reminder of the attacks.